KILLER SOBS ON FLOOR HEARING GUILTY VERDICT

Allister Simon collapsed sobbing on the floor of the prisoner's box
last night when a jury returned after a day and a half of
deliberations to find the Toronto man guilty of second-degree murder.

Simon, 27, was convicted of shooting and killing 25-year-old Jason
Porter, a husband and father of a young son, during what the Crown
described as an armed drug ripoff.

Simon had come to Porter's Wexford Avenue North home in Hamilton's
east end with another man, supposedly to purchase a half pound of
marijuana for $1,300. But the drug deal erupted in gunfire and Porter
- -- shot through the chest with a .380 handgun -- collapsed and died on
the floor of his kitchen.

The victim's father, George Porter, said he did not even realize that
his son occasionally sold pot until the shocking circumstances were
revealed following his death on March 31, 2003.

"Jason was a good person. He paid for the mistakes he made with his
life and now this man (Simon) will pay for what he did for the rest of
his life."

His conviction for second-degree murder means Simon will be subject to
a statutory life sentence of 25 years, but it will be for Superior
Court Justice Alan Whitten to decide when he will be eligible to apply
for parole. The minimum eligibility period is 10 years.

Simon had been co-accused in the killing with another Toronto man,
Everton Philbert Cribb, 24, a hardened criminal and crack dealer.
Cribb pleaded guilty to manslaughter and testified against his friend.

Cribb was sentenced to seven years in prison. He is expected to be
deported to Jamaica after he is released from prison.